A political and institutional crisis is taking place in Italy. Just yesterday, the Italian President Sergio Mattarella turned down the nomination of the 81-year-old economistPaolo Savona as Minister of Economy and Finance, on the basis of his well-known anti-European attitudes and views.
Despite previous presidents had used their institutional powers to refuse to appoint a minister,this move has provoked a “messy post-election drama”: both coalition parties (5Stars and League) refused to switch Savona out, and the prime minister-designate Giuseppe Conte rejected the mandate to form a new government. The collapse of the proposed coalition leaves Italy in an uncertain political situation that could degenerate considering the fact that just yesterday the 5Stars leader Luigi Di Maio publicly called for an impeachment procedure against President Mattarella for being submitted to “foreign powers” – the financial market and Germany – and having “betrayed” the Italian citizens as well as the democratic principles on which the Italian Republic is founded.
What has been considered since the beginning of the political campaigns a “populist government” is thus now at stake. President Mattarella has summoned former International Monetary Fund official Carlo Cottarelli to appear at the presidential palace this morning, suggesting that he could lead a technocratic government, yet another one. The 5Stars and League would prefer early elections but as League leader Matteo Salvini stated yesterday “Mattarella will decide that, since he decided everything”.
Gabriella Cinque
For further info:
POLITICO – https://www.politico.eu/article/italys-premier-designate-steps-down-after-failed-cabinet-talks/
REPUBBLICA – http://www.repubblica.it/politica/2018/05/27/news/governo_conte_mattarella_savona-197450521/
